“OUGH” What a Story!

By Glenn Gipson

Once upon a time there was an English student who thought that he could find

enough tough dough to fill his borough. He sought for it everywhere. When he

went to the store he bought as much as he could. While on vacation he brought

back some from the neighboring cities. Things were getting rough, and although

he had a cold and a bad cough, he still managed to plough through the winter as

though he were well. He continued his search. He fought long and hard. He

wrought night and day in his endeavor for enough tough dough. Finally, after

many months he thought that his thorough search ought to come to an end. And

one day it did, when by chance he came upon a very old tree. Next to the tree

was an old horse trough. And on the boughs of the tree he saw enough tough

dough to fill his borough. The end!

EXAMPLE PRONUNCIATION

thought, bought, fought, brought,

‘awt’
ought, sought, wrought

enough, rough, tough ‘uff’ as in STUFF

though, although, dough, thorough,

‘o’ as in NO or GO
borough

cough, trough ‘off’

bough, plough ‘ow’ as in COW or NOW

through ‘u’ as in THREW or SHOE